Sr. Staff Engineer, Electrical Link Architecture

Sr. Staff Engineer, Electrical Link Architecture

Location: San Jose, CA (on-site)

Ayar Labs is solving the I/O bandwidth bottlenecks inherent in modern AI compute architectures. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we develop silicon photonics solutions that deliver unprecedented bandwidth density and reach, at a fraction of the power consumption required to scale next-generation AI models.

Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD, Mediatek and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world's leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs' co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.

Joining our Link Design and Architecture team, you will own the electrical-side modeling that drives our silicon photonics I/O platform — the analog front end, the DSP that closes the link, and the models that make circuits and photonics co-simulate end-to-end. This team is responsible for the robustness and performance of the optical links that power our technology, from component-level modeling through architecture definition, full link analysis, specification development, and yield prediction. Beyond today's products, the team drives the exploration of next-generation link architectures and directly shapes our long-term technology roadmaps.

Essential Functions

• Build and maintain compact models of the analog front end and the DSP chain at the fidelity needed for accurate BER and link-margin prediction.
• Co-design Verilog-A models of the electrical/optical interface — modulators, photodetectors, and the blocks where circuits and photonics meet — with analog / mixed-signal (AMS) designers.
• Anchor models to silicon by working with validation engineers to reconcile simulation against measurement.
• Feed accurate electrical models into link studies, partnering with statistical link modeling experts on specs and yield using standard circuit-design methods (corners, Monte Carlo).
• Collaborate across AMS, photonics, and validation to keep the modeling stack coherent with the product roadmap.
• Run end-to-end link simulations to evaluate device and architecture choices, informing current product design and future roadmap exploration.

Required Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years (Sr. Engineer) or 8+ years (Staff Engineer) of experience in high-speed link modeling, SerDes architecture, analog/mixed-signal modeling, or DSP for wireline communication.
• Strong working knowledge of analog front-end blocks and the DSP that closes high-speed links.
• Proficiency in Verilog-A and mixed-signal simulation methodologies.
• Experience with statistical circuit analysis methods (corners, Monte Carlo).
• Strong Python skills for scientific computing and data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior industry experience architecting and deploying SerDes into a shipping product.
• MS or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with silicon bring-up, validation, or link characterization.
• Working knowledge of analog circuit fundamentals and high-speed signal integrity concepts.
• Familiarity with Cadence Virtuoso / ADE / Spectre.
• Familiarity with optical transceiver principles, modulation formats, and industry standards.

Salary range: $190,000 - $223,000

NOTE TO RECRUITERS:
Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.

Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.